An unnamed 35year-old IBM employee has been charged over a bomb threat made to a Singapore Airlines flight just a day after the terrorist attacks on the US.

The computer giant's Singapore office has confirmed that the man, from New Zealand, worked for the company, although he is not based at the Singapore office, according to Reuters.

The man sent an email claiming that a bomb was aboard Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 422 bound for South Africa, delaying the flight for six hours. He has been charged with transmitting a false or fabricated message and will appear in court again on 28 September after receiving a psychiatric assessment.

If convicted, he faces up to seven years in jail and/or a maximum fine of around £20,000 (Singapore $50,000).

Police said that the suspect was arrested at a lounge in Changi Airport on Wednesday as he waited to board the plane.